yoyo123 wrote:Howdy, all. I'm technically not new here, but just returned after a hiatus.

I've been really lazy about writing lately, so I've decided to enter next quarter for the first time (and every quarter after that), just to give myself a kick in the pants to write more (and finish more!). I don't expect to do well, but at least if I have a goal it'll push me to improve. Here's looking forward to my very first rejection!

Hi my name is Cora, you may call me that or my pen name Melontine.I entered in the writers contest this past September and I am patiently awaiting the result of my very first entry. (Probably a reject, but who knows.) I'm probably just going to hang out and lurk about forums. But every once in a while I'll post and share a few thoughts. I look forward to lurking and chatting with each of you, and improving my skills as a writer. This seems like the place for it after all.

Melontine wrote:Hi my name is Cora, you may call me that or my pen name Melontine.I entered in the writers contest this past September and I am patiently awaiting the result of my very first entry. (Probably a reject, but who knows.) I'm probably just going to hang out and lurk about forums. But every once in a while I'll post and share a few thoughts. I look forward to lurking and chatting with each of you, and improving my skills as a writer. This seems like the place for it after all.

Hello fellow new person! I also made my first entry for Quarter 4. Good luck and welcome!

Hello, Everyone! I've been reading the forum for awhile now, and I've been submitting to the contest even longer (oh my, I just counted and I've submitted to 28 quarters! And all but one of those was consecutive!), so I figured it was time to join, mostly to better obsess over results

Beth Powers wrote:Hello, Everyone! I've been reading the forum for awhile now, and I've been submitting to the contest even longer (oh my, I just counted and I've submitted to 28 quarters! And all but one of those was consecutive!), so I figured it was time to join, mostly to better obsess over results

Wow, Beth, that's awesome!

"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you." - Ray Bradbury"Write until it becomes as natural as breathing. Write until not writing makes you anxious." - Christina Katz

I got an honorable mention last quarter and now I'm a little obsessed...

Got a stupid question though: The rules state that the contest "is open only to those who have not professionally published a novel or short novel, or more than one novelette, or more than three short stories."

I sold a novelette a couple of months back. Am I correct to think that I could still sell THREE short stories before I am no longer eligible?

Hello all. As so many before me, I'm a long time lurker, first time poster. I actually registered to try and help Ishmael recover his lost story, but I see he no longer requires assistance, so I thought I might as well go all the way and introduce myself. Nothing exciting in the contest to report, I'm afraid. I've gotten several rejections, and now have a Q4 story that barely made it in under the wire, so... we shall see...

Welcome Vernon and Starkiller! And if I've missed anyone, welcome to any I've missed.

Things are a bit quiet at present. Mostly folks are hiding (ahem, twitching) in their rejection-proof shelters until we see more action on Q4. In the meantime, though, bust out your Q1s and get writing. :)

VernonHedrick wrote:I sold a novelette a couple of months back. Am I correct to think that I could still sell THREE short stories before I am no longer eligible?

A couple of thoughts---

First, the guidelines suggest publish, not sell. A fair few prize winners got their win after selling their last eligible story, but before its actual appearance (with final appearance happening after quarterly submission, but before actually winning four months later).

Second, that is professional publication, which is to say minimum pay of six cents a word AND distribution of five thousand copies (or views for electronic publication).

Third, the guidelines do say "...more than one novelette, or more than three short stories..." which argues (as you posit) that so long as you don't exceed either requirement you would remain eligible.

Finally, the contest exists to discover pro-level talent, with winners increasingly being people who are starting to sell regularly to pro markets. The contest administrator wants to be convinced, so if you're an edge case but make a good argument (and write a prizewinning story) arguable requirements can often be successfully argued.

Hi there. My name is Tristi Mullett and this is my first time entering the contest. It's actually my first time submitting any sort of fiction to any venue, really. It's a bit nerve-wracking, to be honest. But I promised myself I would do it this year, and I've made it prior to the final deadline. I guess now it's a matter of waiting... and keeping my fingers, arms, toes, legs, and eyes crossed.

TristiKitty wrote:Hi there. My name is Tristi Mullett and this is my first time entering the contest. It's actually my first time submitting any sort of fiction to any venue, really. It's a bit nerve-wracking, to be honest. But I promised myself I would do it this year, and I've made it prior to the final deadline. I guess now it's a matter of waiting... and keeping my fingers, arms, toes, legs, and eyes crossed.

Hi all. I've been lurking (and probably will go back to it again soon). But thought I'd wave and say hello.

I'm submitting for the first time this quarter. My 'rejection box' is waiting to be filled. I think I might aim for submitting twice a year. I'd do quarterly entries, but I think my plate is too full for that.

Dwayne here ... down in the deep south (Alabama), which has been unusually cold of late.

Submitted for the first time this last quarter ... patiently waiting for my rejection. Well, somewhat patiently. The angst and twitching on the Jibber Jabber threads make me smile. There's a feeling of camaraderie in knowing I'm not the only one who checks email and scans the board on a regular basis.

I submitted on a whim, blissfully unaware of the event's history, and forgot about it. Then I received an email from Joni telling me I had made the first cut. I was still fine until I made the mistake of watching last year's awards. It was then that I realized the scope of this contest, and the daydreams started. Is there a time-honored antidote?

I am me. Bah, I'm never good at these introduce-yourself things, but I'm still me. And I'm Rob, if that helps anyone. I'm not entirely sure it helps me.

I entered WOTF for the first time in the 2014 fourth quarter, mostly just to get rid of my nerves about the idea of entering it--now, I look forward to a fine future of getting rejected and then trying again. Hurrah!